ICASA Awards Three Grants to Advance Antimicrobial Stewardship

The International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA), a public-private partnership established by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) to advance research on antimicrobial stewardship in animal agriculture, is excited to announce the first grants awarded by the consortium. Collectively, these grants protect live-saving medications for human use, track antibiotic resistance in swine and increase knowledge of a harmful cattle disease. 

Maintaining the efficacy of antibiotics is a complex issue affecting both human and animal health. The responsible use of antibiotics is a top priority for livestock producers. FFAR established ICASA in 2019 with an initial $7.5 million investment to fund research that promotes targeted antibiotic use, advances animal health and welfare and increases transparency in food production practices. The private sector is matching FFAR’s investment for a total $15 million investment in antibiotic stewardship research. 

 ICASA awarded funds to the following grantees for their bold research advancing antimicrobial stewardship: 

• The Beef Alliance received $342,000 to evaluate how different use strategies with the antibiotic tylosin impacts beef cattle’s health. The research is being conducted by industry-leading nutritionists and Beef Alliance members. The Beef Alliance and Cactus Research contributed matching funds to the project.
  Tylosin is commonly administered to cattle in US feedlots to treat and prevent liver abscesses. However, tylosin belongs to an antibiotic class often used in human medicine and its use has become controversial among some stakeholders. The large-scale experiment, involving approximately 12,000 animals at six Beef Alliance member company feed yards across the US, is evaluating the impact of reduced tylosin dosage on the incidence and severity of liver abscesses. The results will enable cattle producers to make science-based decisions regarding the judicious use of tylosin, consistent with long-term goals set by the FDA and other stakeholders.
• Pipestone Veterinary Services received $313,840, matched by Pipestone Veterinary Services and the National Pork Board for a total $627,280 investment, to launch an on-farm antimicrobial resistance surveillance study for the US swine industry.Currently, antimicrobial resistance data are not tracked on swine farms. The Pipestone team is collecting data on pathogens from 160 commercial swine farms in several states. These samples are being analyzed and the data will be correlated with antibiotic usage data at the farm level. This research is evaluating the relationship between antibiotic use, pathogen type, production practices and antimicrobial resistance across a large pig production system. Ideally, this information will form the basis for a standardized protocol to track antibiotic usage and conduct antimicrobial resistance surveillance that could be applied across the US swine industry. 
• The Noble Research Institute received $186,643, matched by Noble Research Institute LLC, Veterinary Research and Consulting Services and HyPlains Research and Education Center for a total $373,287 investment, to identify causes of late-onset bovine respiratory disease in cattle.Late-onset bovine respiratory disease affects nearly 10 percent of calves, resulting in pneumonia and widespread antibiotic use. Recently, a late-onset disease has been identified in some cattle that are similar to bovine respiratory disease. It is unclear whether this is the classical form of bovine respiratory disease, which causes the condition and how to treat it. Johnson collected DNA for genetic evaluation, nasal swabs for bacterial and viral analysis and blood samples for heart and lung analysis. Feed intake, stomach acidity levels and temperature were assessed on a subset of animals. The project is complete, and a final report will soon be released. This information will help researchers determine what health factors predispose calves to late-onset bovine respiratory disease. 

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About ICASA

The International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA) is a public-private partnership created by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) to advance research on antimicrobial stewardship in animal agriculture. ICASA’s research promotes the judicious use of antibiotics, advances animal health and wellness and increases transparency in food production practices.